Sunday, February 14, 2010

Saturday, February 13, 2010

The previous set (GE/Hotpoint) was 19 years old. They had always been reliable up until a few months ago. Thankfully, I had been doing research on what I wanted to replace them with because Hubby and I had been nursing the dryer on for a couple of months, then the washing machine just QUIT! Guess all those years of doing laundry wore them out.

I'm so thrilled with my new set. It's sooooo very quiet and efficient. No more running the dryer twice just to make sure the clothes are dry. No more stinky washer in the summer time because I forgot to leave the lid open so it could air out. It will be interesting to see what kind of changes occur in our utility and water bills.

for the 2nd Friday in a row, my city has been in the news for a senseless shooting. This time it took place at my alma mater, The University of Alabama - Huntsville.

Dr. Amy Bishop, assistant professor in the Biology department at The University of Alabama - Huntsville, shot 6 of her co-workers in a faculty meeting. Three were killed - Dr. Gopi Podila, Dr. Maria Ragland Davis and Dr. Adriel Johnson. Dr. Joseph Leahy, Stephanie Monticciolo and Dr. Luis Rogelio were wounded in the attack. Dr. Leahy and Ms. Monticciolo are in critical condition and Dr. Rogelio was in stable condition (as of 8am CST Saturday). All of them are being treated at a local hospital. Their families are in my prayers. I cannot begin to imagine how heartbroken they are.

Since yesterday afternoon, there has been a constant stream of information being put forth about Dr. Bishop. Here's what I've learned - She is married to UAH geneticist/researcher, James Anderson. Together, they have 4 children. The news reports state that her tenure had been denied months ago and that this upcoming semester would be her last at UA-Huntsville. In today's local paper, it's reported that she accidentally shot and killed her brother in December 1986 while cleaning a shotgun and she was released to her mother by the police chief. She was 20 years old at the time. The records from that arrest disappeared in 1987. Sounds kinda fishy, I'm just saying...

There are a lot of unanswered questions and in the days/weeks/months to come I'm sure that we'll be learning more than we ever wanted to know about Dr. Amy Bishop.

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Yesterday afternoon there was a shooting a neighborhood middle school. I'm still trying to come to terms with how it's possible that a child has access to a weapon and a loaded one at that. I believe that it's law (at least where I live) that guns and ammunition must be stored separately in locked storage devices. This may be very naive on my part, but it seems like common sense NOT to store them together.

It is my opinion that in today's society, adults (parents/school administration) are not stepping up to the plate when it comes to disciplining their children. Ultimately, parents are responsible for making sure that their children show respect and obey the authority of other adults when not at home. I have witnessed it first hand where a child gets in trouble at school and tells the assistant principal that he/she doesn't have to listen to the AP because they are not their mom/dad. Excuse me!?! Growing up if I spoke to another adult like that I knew that not only was I in trouble at school, but I was DEFINITELY in trouble at home. Most children, today, do not have that fear of repercussions (my two do because I've told them so). The only way we're going to solve this problem is for parents and school personnel to work together when it comes to disciplining children. To let them know that there are other ways to work out their differences that don't involve violence and possibly taking another's life.

I am praying for the shooting victim's family and classmates. Prayers are also being offered to the shooter and his family. I can't begin to imagine the pain/sorrow/guilt they must be experiencing.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

I think this is so cool! Though, it is kind of sad that Pluto was demoted from our 9th planet to a "dwarf planet" in 2006. I suppose I just don't understand NASA's definition of what constitutes a planet.